Inviolable fastening for receptacles

ABSTRACT

An inviolable fastening for receptacles comprising at least one intermediate member inserted between two other members represented by the cap and the neck of the receptacle, in which the inserted member is friction fitted on a corresponding part of one of the two other aforesaid members by means of a previous elastic deformation of one of the two parts, the inserted member being moreover fixed during the closing of the receptacle latter to the aforesaid fitting on the corresponding part of the other of the two members.

nite all States Patent Victor Wassilieif Inventor 57, Rue de Maubeuge, Paris 9 eme, France Appl. No. 844,476 Filed July 24, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 Priority July 29, 1968 France 160919 INVIOLABLE FASTENING FOR RECEFTACLES 5 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

11.8. C1 215/7, 215/40, 215/43 llnt. Cl A6lj 1/00, 865d 55/02 Field of Search 215/7, 42, 9, 43, 40

[56} References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,110,411 11/1963 Golde 2l5/7X 3,224,616 12/1965 Fields 215/7 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-imirie and Smiley ABSTRACT: An inviolable fastening for receptacles comprising at least one intermediate member inserted between two other members represented by the cap and the neck of the receptacle, in which the inserted member is friction fitted on a corresponding part of one of the two other aforesaid members by means of a previous elastic deformation of one of the two parts, the inserted member being moreover fixed during the closing of the receptacle latter to the aforesaid fitting on the corresponding part of the other of the two members.

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FIG 9 FIG "II INVEMTM vim-on WA in? PATENTED our 1 219m (161 2.1320 sum 30F a F|G l2 FIG -13 INVEN'MR Vic-run WA ss MM INVIOLABLE FASTENING FORRECEPTACLES The present invention relates to inviolable fastenings or tamper indicating closure assembly for receptacles such as tubes, bottles, flasks, etc....

In numerous fields, it is actually desirable to produce a fastening that retains visible traces of'the first opening of the receptacle and thus showing that it has been tampered with.

In known systems,..these visible traces are generally obtained, either by tearing part of the fastening set in the receptacle and caused by the first opening, either by the necessity of tearing part of the fastening to make this opening possible.

However, these two systems have certain disadvantages; thus, it is possible to avoid tearing the fastening according to the first system by removing the setting before opening, and putting it back after closing, or the fastening of the second system can be opened without previous tearing, by a greater effort.

It should also be noted that the known systems do not enable the producing of fastenings of the inviolable type when they are applied with receptacles of the aerosol type or the like, in which these fastenings of cap shape are not screwed but directly pushed in, and held by frictionon the necks of the receptacles.

The object of the invention is to produce an inviolable fastening system which, on the one hand, makes a fraudulent opening impossible, without leaving visible traces on the receptacle, and on the other hand, enables the fastening to be used on all stoppering systems, while remaining a simple structure, cheap and easily to fit by automatic machines.

To this end, the device for closing receptacles, according to the invention, occurs in the shape of a unit of at least three members: the first being the tip of the receptacle or any opening defining element, the second the cap or any other closure element, and the third, a sentinel element of deformable elastic material inserted between the two aforementioned elements characterized by the fact that the friction fitting of one end of this elastic element on one of the two aforementioned elements, can only be done by deforming this end by means of a tool before fitting, and by carrying out this fitting before definitely fixing the other end of the elastic element on the other of the two aforesaid elements.

It is obvious that the neck of the receptacle and the cap or closure element of the device according to the invention each comprise a part corresponding to one end of the elastic intermediate sentinel element, and enabling on one side, the friction fitment with one of these two ends and the fixed connection with the other.

TI-le invention will be better understood by reading the following specification and examining the attached drawings which show, by way of nonrestrictive examples some methods of embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings FIG. I is an axial section of a first embodiment of the inviolable fastening, the constitutive elements being shown separately before their assembly.

FIG. 2 is an axial section of part of the cap or closure element of the fastening of FIG. I assembled.

FIG. 3 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. 1 shown screwed right onto the neck of the receptacle.

FIG. 4 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. 1 shown closed after being first opened.

FIG. 5 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening.

FIG. 6 is an axial section of still another embodiment of the fastening.

FIG. 7 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. 6 shown closed after a first opening.

FIG. 8 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening of the aerosol type with the cap without threading.

FIG. 9 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening with the cap without threading the fastening being shown closed after being first opened.

FIG. 10 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening.

FIG. 11 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. after being first opened.

FIG. I2 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening.

FIG. I3 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. I2 closed again after being first opened.

FIG. 14 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening of the type with cap without threading for aerosol.

FIG. 15 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. 14 after opening.

FIG. 16 is an axial section of another embodiment of the fastening.

FIG. 17 is an axial section of the fastening of FIG. 16 shown closed after being first opened.

Now, referring to FIG. 11, one sees a threaded cap I constituting a closure element, an elastic intermediate surrounding sentinel part 2 and the threaded neck 3 of a receptacle with a groove 4 thus confining a bulge 4a. The part 2 is shaped so to have a tapered ring 5 in one of its ends, a recess 5a at its center of a shape complementary to the bulge 4a of the neck, whereas the other end of this surrounding part is shaped like a bevelled ring 6.

Two concentric grooves 7 and 6 are provided in the inner face of the cap 11. The groove 7 has a surrounding surface according to the axis of the cap, whereas a generatrice sloped in relation to the axis of the cap forms one of the two surfaces of the groove fi.

In FIG. 2, the cap I is shown friction assembled with the sentinel part 2. For this purpose, the ring 5 enlarged by a punch (not shown in FIG. 2) has been pushed into the groove 7 of the cap 11.

In the position shown in FIG. 3, the cap I closes the receptacle 3. The bevelled ring of the sentinel part 2 after having slid on the bevelled tip 9 of the receptacle, during the screwing of the cap I, has taken its place in the groove 7 of the neck so that the part 5a of the part 2 cooperating with the bulge 4a of the neck fixes the part 2 on said neck 3.

In the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the cap has been closed after a first opening, the cap I, while closing the neck 3 of the receptacle, cannot be screwed right in, as shown in FIG. 3. Actually, after the first opening, the collar 5 of the part 2 slides, quits the cylindrical groove 7 of the cap, and resumes its natural tapered shape. The cap I can be again screwed on the neck 3 of the receptacle according to the position shown in FIG. 4, in which the tapered collar 5 abuts in the bottom of the groove 8 of the cap 1.

FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, an embodiment of the fastening, in which the groove 4 of the neck 3, ensuring the fixing of the member 2, by means of the bevelled ring 6, on this neck, is placed after the threaded part of the receptacle. After the first opening, the tapered collar 5 of the part 2 is tightened around part of the threading of the neck 3 and prevents the cap from resuming the position shown in FIG. 5.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, an embodiment is shown of the fastening in which the part 2 having the shape of a plug with an opening in the center, has been friction fitted by means of a tool by a preliminary pressure in the recess provided at the bottom of the cap I. The fixed connection between the part 2 with the rim 6 and the neck 3 of the receptacle with the innner groove 4 occurs after the first closing of the cap l as can be seen in FIG. 6.

In the position shown in FIG. 7, the part 2, by resuming its shape before the previous compression, prevents the threaded cap 1 from resuming the position shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a method of embodiment of the fastening in which the cap 1 without threading of the type used for aerosols, is fixed on the cylindrical part 110 of the receptacle 3 by friction. After the first opening, the collar 5 of the part 2 elastically deformed so that it can be friction fitted on the cap ll, retightens by itself on part of the cylindrical neck 10, and prevents the cap from resuming the position shown in FIG. fi.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the fastening of the aerosol type in which the part 2 previously fitted by deformation on the cylindrical part ll of the cap l is then automatically fixed during the first closing by its rim 6 in the inner groove 4 of the neck 3 of the receptacle.

The position, represented in FIG. 9, shows that the collar 5 of the part 2 has quitted the cylindrical part 11 and, by resuming its natural profile, prevents the cap 1 from retaking the position that it occupied before the first opening.

FIG. shows an embodiment of the fastening in which the elastic sentinel part 2, previously deformed, has been friction fitted on the cylindrical part 12 of the neck 3 of the receptacle. In the position shown, the threaded cap I, screwed right on to the neck, is fixed with the sentinel part 2.

FIG. 11 shows the sentinel part 2 of FIG. 10 fixed on the cap 1 that is partly unscrewed. The part 2 has resumed its natural profile and will prevent the cap from resuming the position of the first closing.

In FIG. 12, the intermediate sentinel part 2, having the shape of a washer with the central tapered hole 13, is friction fitted, by a previous deformation, inside the neck 3. The outer edge of the washer 2 presses on the edge 14 of the neck. The central part of the cap 1, of press-button shape 15, ensures the fixed connection between the cap 1 and washer 2 at the end of the first closing of the cap.

FIG. 13 shows the position of the cap 1 of FIG. 12 in relation to the neck 3, the washer have resumed its flat shape after the first opening of the cap. The absolute sealtightness of the fastening is ensured before and after the first opening by means of the washer 2 which always presses on the neck.

In FIG. 14, the part 2, previously deformed, is friction fitted on the cylindrical part 16 of the neck 3. The inner groove 17, provided in the central part of the cap 1 of the aerosol type, will ensure the fixed connection between the cap 1 and the elastic sentinel part 2 after the first closing.

FIG. shows the position relating to the members of the fastening of FIG. 14, after the first closing. The part 2, by resuming its natural shape and by abutting in the bottom of the cylindrical groove 18, will prevent the cap 1 from resuming the position of the first closing.

One can thus see from the foregoing, that the cap, the intermediate sentinel part and the neck of the receptacle can be of different shapes; the connection between the receptacle and cap can be made by screwing, friction or the like; the parts friction fitted by a previous deformation and the means of fixed linking during the fastening of the receptacle can also have all suitable shapes without going outside the idea of the invention.

Furthermore, in the event that the neck of the receptacle and cap are of elastically deformable material, the intermediate sentinel part can be made of hard material, the cap undergoing previous deformation, necessary for its friction fitting.

In FIG. 16, a receptacle is shown whose neck 3 is of flexible and elastic plastic material. In this embodiment, the sentinel part 2 is moulded in hard plastic material and has two annular grooves 20, 21 defining two circular crowns 20a, 21a, the revolving surface of the crown 20a being sloped towards the interior. The cap 1 is confined for internally forming an annular groove 22 and a crown 22a of respectively complementary shape, to the groove 21 and crown 21a of the part 2, the surrounding surface of the crown 22a being also sloped towards the interior (FIG. 17).

The cap 1 is shown friction assembled wit the part 2. For this purpose, the crown 22a of the cap 1, enlarged by a punch (not shown), receives the corresponding groove 21 of the part 2 so that the crown 21a reenters the groove 22 of the cap 1.

The cap 1 being thus integralized with the part 2 is fixed on the neck 3 of the receptacle by screwing, for instance. In the position shown in FIG. 16, the cap closes the receptacle. The bevelled bulge 4a of the elastic neck 3, after having slide on the bevelled crown 20a of the part 2 during the screwing of the cap 1, has taken its place in the groove 20 of the part 2. As in the other embodiments of the invention, the cap 1 is thus made fixed with the neck 3 by means of the part 2, the only difference being that here the art 2 is of hard material.

In the position shown |n IG. 17, the cap I has been replaced on the receptacle after have been once removed. Then, the cap 1 cannot be screwed right in, as was done after a first closing shown in FIG. 16. Actually, after the first opening, the bevelled annular groove 22a of the elastic cap 1 slides on the annular groove 21a of the part 2. The stopper I can thus only be screwed on the neck 3 up to the position shown in FIG. 17, in which the crown 21a of the hard intermediate part 2 abuts on the crown 22a of the stopper 1 which does not have a sloping surface on that side.

The invention is not restricted to the examples of embodiment shown and described in detail, for various modifications can be applied to it without going outside its scope.

Iclaim:

1. A tamper indicating closure assembly comprising:

an opening defining element,

a closure element for said opening defining element, and

an elastically deformable sentinel element intermediate the opening defining element and the closure element; wherein, with the assembly first closed, the sentinel element is in engagement both with the opening defining element and the closure element, one engagement being readily releasable and the other engagement being retained on opening the assembly, the readily releasable engagement being effected by elastic deformation of one portion of the sentinel element with the aid of a special tool with the elastic deformation being maintained until the first opening of the assembly and the retained engagement being effected automatically by the first fastening of the closure element on the opening defining element by inwardly and outwardly cooperating shoulders on the opening defining element and the sentinel element so that on opening the assembly the sentinel element resumes its undeformed configuration while undeformed retained on one element and released from the other, said undeformed configuration guarding against the opening defining element and the closure element taking up the relative position they occupied when the assembly was first closed and thereby indicating that the assembly has been opened.

2. A tamper indicating closure assembly for receptacles and other opening defining element comprising at least one sentinel element intermediate said opening defining element and a closure element or cap constituting two cooperating members, wherein said sentinel element is friction fitted on a cooperating part of one of the two other aforesaid cooperating members, a previous elastic deformation of one of the two parts being necessary to couple them up for ensuring this friction fitting, said sentinel element being in a locked connection during the first closing of said opening defining element to the aforesaid fitting, on a cooperating part of the other of said two cooperating members.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2, in which said connection between said sentinel element and the other said two cooperating members is ensured by a groove and a cooperating bevelled ring placed in these members.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which said sentinel element is of elastically deformable material whereby, after a first opening, it slides and quits the part of the member on which is is friction fitted by previous deformation and when resuming its natural shape, prevents the cooperating member from resuming the position of the first closing.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein in said sentinel element comprises a collar frictionally urging said closure element, said collar having a rim at the lower part thereof and engaging a neck of said opening defining element. 

1. A tamper indicating closure assembly comprising: an opening defining element, a closure element for said opening defining element, and an elastically deformable sentinel element intermediate the opening defining element and the closure element; wherein, with the assembly first closed, the sentinel element is in engagement both with the opening defining element and the closure element, one engagement being readily releasable and the other engagement being retained on opening the assembly, the readily releasable engagement being effected by elastic deformation of one portion of the sentinel element with the aid of a special tool with the elastic deformation being maintained until the first opening of the assembly and the retained engagement being effected automatically by the first fastening of the closure element on the opening defining element by inwardly and outwardly cooperating shoulders on the opening defining element and the sentinel element so that on opening the assembly the sentinel element resumes its undeformed configuration while undeformed retained on one element and released from the other, said undeformed configuration guarding against the opening defining element and the closure element taking up the relative position they occupied when the assembly was first closed and thereby indicating that the assembly has been opened.
 2. A tamper indicating closure assembly for receptacles and other opening defining element comprising at least one sentinel element intermediate said opening defining element and a closure element or cap constituting two cooperating members, wherein said sentinel element is friction fitted on a cooperating part of one of the two other aforesaid cooperating members, a previous elastic deformation of one of the two parts being necessary to couple them up for ensuring this friction fitting, said sentinel elEment being in a locked connection during the first closing of said opening defining element to the aforesaid fitting, on a cooperating part of the other of said two cooperating members.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2, in which said connection between said sentinel element and the other said two cooperating members is ensured by a groove and a cooperating bevelled ring placed in these members.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which said sentinel element is of elastically deformable material whereby, after a first opening, it slides and quits the part of the member on which is is friction fitted by previous deformation and when resuming its natural shape, prevents the cooperating member from resuming the position of the first closing.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein in said sentinel element comprises a collar frictionally urging said closure element, said collar having a rim at the lower part thereof and engaging a neck of said opening defining element. 